No More Billboards Mr. Perez

In an article in today's Hartford Courant, courant.com | Raising Money With Signs, it was pointed out that Mayor Perez is considering erecting a handful of new billboards in Hartford to fund new bus shelters.

I live in Hartford. I can honestly tell you that from my apartment window, I can see two billboards for sex shops. Now I am not one to discriminate against people's choices, but how is a family supposed to come downtown to enjoy a Hartford Wolf*Pack game, UConn basketball, a Monster Truck show or any other event if they have to worry about what their young children will see in the sky. The article does clarify:

The city would receive an upfront payment as well as an annual fee. Also, to avoid billboards that boast sex shops and adult cabarets that have drawn recent criticism, the city would have a right to regulate the content of the billboards.

Quite honestly though, it is not enough. There are a number of high and mid-rise apartments going up downtown. A new tenant will be attracted by the view. Let's use the tax revenue from new residents to pay for these bus shelters.